About Teen Stylin’

What is Teen Stylin’?

Designed for students with a passion for clothing design, studio arts, installation art, and/or sculpture, Teen Stylin’ provides aspiring designers with the guidance and assistance to create their own one-of-a-kind, wearable works of art. More than 80 Virginia student designers in grades 6 – 12 will work over the course of eight weeks to create wearable works of art inspired by the annual special exhibition theme and works of art in the VMFA permanent collection. These creations will be featured during the Teen Stylin’ Fashion Runway Exhibitions.

2014–15 Event Dates

Metro Richmond Area Students, Event I: Sat, Nov 15, 6 – 9 pm

Metro Richmond Area Students, Event II: Sat, Nov 22, 6 – 9 pm

Satellite and Statewide Students(students living 30 miles or more outside the Metro Richmond Area)Statewide and Satellite Students Event: Sat, Nov 22, 2 – 4 pm

Tickets for teens (ages 12 – 19) are FREE (whether they are participating in the program or not); however, reserved tickets are required. Tickets for everyone else are $8 (VMFA members $5). Tickets go on sale Sep 22, 2014, on the VMFA website.

What is this year’s theme?

In celebration of the fall 2014 VMFA special exhibition Forbidden City: Imperial Treasures from Palace Museum, Beijing, this year’s theme is Forbidden. During orientation, each student designer will choose an inspiration piece from selected works of art in the VMFA permanent collection, which explore such themes as Imperial Intrigue, Religion and Ritual, Castles and Caste, and more. Student designers will be challenged to use creative construction and alternative material to reveal perceived or known truths in a wearable work of art. These creations will be featured during the Teen Stylin’ Fashion Runway Exhibitions.

Who is eligible to apply?

All students in grades 6 – 12 living in Virginia are eligible.

Metro Richmond Studentsare considered to be individuals in grades 6 – 12 living 30 miles or less from Richmond City.

Statewide Studentsare students living 30 miles or more outside metro Richmond or 45 miles or more from the Stylin Satellite locations.

Those living 30 miles or less from the city of Richmond (Metro Richmond students) attend eight weeks of creative clothing workshops at VMFA. Students living 45 miles or less from the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art in Virginia Beach or McLean Project for the Arts (Satellite students), attend the same workshops at these satellite facilities. All other students are Statewide Students.

Application deadline for all students is Sep 5, 2014. Early consideration deadline is Jun 1; students who apply by Jun 1 receive first consideration and will be notified of their acceptance by Jun 15. All other students will be notified of their acceptance by Sep 8.

PLEASE NOTE: The application deadline for students interested in attending Satellite Schedule I, at the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art, has been extended to Fri, Sep 12, 2014. Students will be notified of acceptance via email or phone by Mon, Sep 15, 2014.

Who teaches the program?

At the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts

Mo Regulinski wearable art artist, instructor and costume designer, began her tenure with the VMFA Teen Stylin’ program in 2005, the launch of the Teen Stylin’ program. She has acted as the lead instructor ever since, working with over 600 student designers and models to promote critical thinking, creativity, problem solving, and amazing designs. Mo studied at University of Southern California where she received her M.F.A in Theatrical Design.

Jessica Bauserman, VMFA Teen Stylin Program Coordinator since 2008. Jessica began her involvement with Teen Stylin during a service learning project in 2005 while studying Art Education at Virginia Commonwealth University. She has taught secondary students for ten years through extra-curricular programs concentrating on leadership, creative problem-solving, studio arts, and art history. Jessica graduated from VCU in 2003 with a BFA in Sculpture.

Satellite Program

Michael-Birch Pierce is a fashion designer and fiber artist who is based in Richmond, VA. He just completed his MFA coursework in Fibers with a focus on embellishment, embroidery, and print design at the Savannah College of Art and Design. During his time at SCAD, Michael-Birch interned for Diane von Furstenberg, invented a line of cotton paper sequins, and designed and embroidered Christmas decorations for the Obama White House. He is currently an adjunct professor of fashion at VCU and managing director of Mayo Island Studio Collective.

Linda Lee currently serves as a Fashion/Apparel consultant in Northern VA. Linda was formerly the Affiliate Professor, BFA for Fashion Design at Virginia Commonwealth University. Linda attended Pratt Institute. Her professional philosophy is: “Buy local and think global.”Linda is currently researching eco-fashion in the US and contemporary China; fair trade and social responsibility; research focus on sustainable and indigenous textiles in Guatemala and Southeast Asia, with an emphasis on preservation of traditional weaving practices.

What are the awards?

Best Overall, of the Best in Show winners, this piece goes above and beyond the criteria and traits listed in all award categories and brings a unique and inspiring personal vision and design to the Teen Stylin program.

Best in Show superiorly exhibits all of the criteria and traits listed in all award categories excluding Best Male and Female Model.

Best Use of Alternative Materials & Creative Construction uses unexpected or alternative materials in creative ways and demonstrates clear understanding of creative construction. Limits use of traditional methods of clothing construction.

Best Interpretation of an Artwork clearly incorporates literally, figuratively, metaphorically, and/or conceptually a VMFA work of art as their design inspiration.

Best Male and Female Model should exhibit confidence and playfulness on the runway. Engages the audience and exercises a competent cat walk representative of the design they model.

Judging will take place on the day of the event for all award categories excluding Best Overall. The Best Overall Award will be decided on Nov 22 at the conclusion of the final runway exhibition. For each award category, designers in grades 6 – 8 will compete for a Fashion Designer Portfolio Kit valued at $400 and designers in grades 9 – 12 will compete for a free trip to New York City; students in grades 9 – 12 are eligible to win runner-up in all categories. Runner-ups will receive a Fashion Designer Portfolio Kit valued at $250. The Best Overall winner will receive not only a trip to NYC but also the 9-12 grade Fashion Designer Portfolio Kit.